Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Air Canada has suspended operations until, at least, later Monday, as striking flight attendants now defy a government order to force them back to work.
The strike on Canada's largest carrier is having a major impact some Western New York travelers heading overseas.
"It definitely impacts Western New Yorkers," said Elizabeth Carey from AAA. "We have what's normally a convenience of going up to Toronto to take those international flights. People prefer that. They can just drive up to the Toronto airport and fly directly to some of the top destinations that are really hot right now rather than fly from Buffalo and you have to connect through New York or Philadelphia to go to Europe. So a lot of people do rely on the Toronto Airport, especially at this time of year."
About 10,000 Air Canada employees walked off the job Saturday, many of them flight attendants, over pay and compensation for work done on the ground.
Carey told WBEN on Monday they have already been in touch with Western New Yorkers who are having to make major changes to their plans.
"What AAA does is pull a list proactively of who is going to be impacted by this if something happens, and then start to re-route as needed."
Even when the work stoppage ends, Air Canada warns it might still take days for the airline to get operations back on track.